Shanghai, June 28, 2025 – The 15th annual DigitalFUTURES 2025 summer workshop, hosted by Tongji University’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP), officially launched today at the CAUP Bell Hall. Over 700 participants, including leading experts and students from 134 institutions across 11 countries and regions, convened to explore the theme “Quantum Habitation: AI, Computational Design, and Intelligent Construction” through a week-long program of workshops, lectures, and collaborative projects.

Opening Highlights

Registration began at 7:00 AM, uniting 511 participants and 119 mentors for the intensive workshop series. The opening ceremony featured speeches by Tongji University Executive Vice President Lü Peiming, Vice President Li Xiangning, and CAUP Vice Dean Shi Xing, with CAUP Vice Dean Philip F. Yuan co-chairing the event.

Keynote Speeches

Four international scholars delivered visionary talks:

Hernán Díaz Alonso (Southern California Institute of Architecture) proposed “AI+AI”—a fusion of artificial intelligence and amplified human intuition—to redefine architectural essence through “embodied architecture” and material innovation.

Shen Hengtao (Tongji University School of Computer Science) advocated for “Tech-Humanities” networks, leveraging algorithms and big data to revolutionize material design and human-machine interaction.

Achim Menges (University of Stuttgart) unveiled “Digital-Physical Feedback Loops”, merging bio-inspired algorithms with robotic fabrication for sustainable architecture.

Xu Weiguo (Tsinghua University) showcased “Robot-Powered Construction”, demonstrating full-cycle digital integration via 3D-printed concrete technologies.

This year’s 31 workshops span cutting-edge topics:

“Embodied AI Robotics Training Camp”, “Spatial Intelligence World Models”,“Generative AI for Architectural Style Reuse” ,“Bio-Coupled Design for Green Ecosystems”,“Quantum Field Folding”.

Workshops emphasize hands-on collaboration, with projects ranging from AI-driven urban design to robotic timber construction.

Academic & Industry Support

Co-hosted by Tongji Architecture Design and Research Institute (Group) Co., Ltd., the event receives support from:

Academic Partners: Tongji Graduate School, Design Creativity College, Shanghai Autonomous Intelligent Unmanned System Science Center.

Technical Sponsors: FURobot, D5 Renderer, Fologram.

Media Partners: Architectural Intelligence, ArchDaily, Dezeen, and 15+ global publications.

Global Platform for Architectural Innovation

Founded in 2011 by CAUP and the Shanghai Digital Architecture Fabrication Technology Center, DigitalFUTURES operates as an interdisciplinary hub for architectural knowledge exchange. Through lectures, conferences, and exhibitions, it fosters innovation in digital design theory, AI algorithms, and robotic fabrication via its platform www.digitalfutures.world.

Event Schedule

The workshop runs through July 5, culminating in final presentations open to the public. For details, visit www.digitalfutures.world.